Charles Loring Brace, the great American philanthropist and social reformer, is considered a father of the modern foster care movement and was most renowned for starting the Orphan Train movement of the mid-19th century, and for founding The Children's Aid Society. This compassionate minister was appalled by the condition of the street urchins of New York and devised many imaginative programs to improve their lot. But the one scheme he is most famous for are the Orphan Trains. Brace endeavoured to place these destitute children into farm families of New York State and the Midwest especially. "In every American community, especially the western one, there are many spare places at the table of life," Brace wrote. "They have enough for themselves and the stranger too."